Probation sweep targets those released in prison-realignment effort

Jan. 25, 2013

Updated Aug. 21, 2013 1:17 p.m.

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Planning their next surprise visit to a person on probation, Santa Ana police officers David Prewett, Cpl. Manny Moreno, Probation Officer Jason Gomez, Officers Duane Greaver, Matt Lemmon, and Tony Lee gather around paperwork that gives the parolee's description record and a map and photo of their residence. BRUCE CHAMBERS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Santa Ana police officer David Prewett, left, Probation Officer Jason Gomez, center, and SAPD Cpl. Manny Moreno talk with parolee Fernando Valenzuela about his suspicious behavior as they approached his home and asked to see him. Eventually methamphetamine was found on Valenzuela's person and he was arrested. Officers suspected he was selling meth. BRUCE CHAMBERS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Santa Ana police officers search a parolee's room for evidence of any probation violations. They discovered a significant amount of methamphetamine and the tools used to sell the drug. The parolee was arrested. BRUCE CHAMBERS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Santa Ana police officer David Prewett, left, and Sgt. Enrique Esparza search the trunk of a man on probation during a probation compliance visit. The man was arrested after he was found to be in possession of a significant amount of methamphetamines. BRUCE CHAMBERS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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On a probation compliance sweep an officer found a golf ball size chunk of methamphetamine, cash and a scale to weigh out the drug in the possession of a paroled gang member. The man was arrested and transported back to jail. BRUCE CHAMBERS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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On a probation compliance sweep an officer found a golf ball size chunk of methamphetamine, cash and a scale to weigh out the drug in the possession of a paroled gang member. The man was arrested and transported back to jail. BRUCE CHAMBERS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Santa Ana police officer Matt Lemmon walks Fernando Valenzuela to his patrol car after Valenzuela was arrested in violation of his parole. Meth and the instruments to sell the drug were found in Valenzuela's home and on his person. BRUCE CHAMBERS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Santa Ana police officer Matt Lemmon places Fernando Valenzuela in his patrol car after Valenzuela was arrested in violation of his parole. Meth and the instruments to sell the drug were found in Valenzuela's home and on his person. BRUCE CHAMBERS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Rickie Johnson made sure to open his motel room door as quickly as possible the minute he realized police had shown up for an unannounced visit Friday morning. “The sooner I can open the door, the sooner they can see I'm not hiding anything from them,” said Johnson, 59, from his Pueblo Motel room. Johnson, seated center, sits quietly as Santa Ana police officers search his room, which is part of the conditions of his parolee. BRUCE CHAMBERS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Probation Officer Jason Gomez, backed up by Santa Ana police officers, knocks on a front door to check on a parolee under his supervision. The parolee was not at home at the time but was contacted on the phone and promised to visit his parole officer next week. BRUCE CHAMBERS, ORANGE COUNTY RE

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Gathering in a parking lot, a team of Santa Ana police officers and a probation officer go over paperwork for their next surprise visit to check a parolee's probation compliance. Officers Alex Partida, Sonny Lim, Maybelline Soliedo, Probation officer Ramon Gonzalez, officer Maria Orozco, and Cpl. Mike Kuplast were teamed up Friday morning to visit a list of parolee's throughout the city. BRUCE CHAMBERS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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During a surprise visit to check on probation compliance, Santa Ana police officer Maybelline Soliedo searches the personal belongings of a woman free on parolee from a drug possession conviction . Nothing out of compliance was found in the woman's Santa Ana apartment. BRUCE CHAMBERS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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A team of Santa Ana police officers and probation officer had to chase two men when they came to check on a parolee's probation compliance. Both were arrested after items in their possession led to the suspicion that they were selling drugs. BRUCE CHAMBERS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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A team of Santa Ana police officers and probation officer had to chase one man they came to check on for probation compliance. The man was arrested after items in his possession led to the suspicion that he was selling drugs. Here, Santa Ana police officer Daniel Carrillo walks the man to a nearby patrol car after his arrest. BRUCE CHAMBERS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Planning their next surprise visit to a person on probation, Santa Ana police officers David Prewett, Cpl. Manny Moreno, Probation Officer Jason Gomez, Officers Duane Greaver, Matt Lemmon, and Tony Lee gather around paperwork that gives the parolee's description record and a map and photo of their residence. BRUCE CHAMBERS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

SANTA ANA – Rickie Johnson made sure to open his motel room door as quickly as possible the minute he realized police had shown up for an unannounced visit Friday morning.

"The sooner I can open the door, the sooner they can see I'm not hiding anything from them," said Johnson, 59, from his Pueblo Motel room.

Just after 6 a.m., 30 Santa Ana police officers and six probation officers spread across the city, knocking on probationers' doors to make sure they were complying with terms of their release.

Officers searched underneath mattresses and couches, through purses and cabinets. In one home, police found a golf ball-size pack of methamphetamine that resulted in arrest, while in other cases probationers were found compliant or were simply not home. Many of those who were visited by authorities Friday were on probation for drug offenses.

As the responsibility of housing and supervising thousands of inmates shifted from state to county agencies, local police departments have grown increasingly concerned about the effect of parolees and probationers in their jurisdictions.

The new system is known as realignment and has introduced increased cooperation between local law enforcement agencies and the county's Probation Department, such as in Friday's sweep.

Orange County Probation officials said 1,896 offenders were assigned to local supervision under realignment from October 2011 to June 2012. Of those probationers, about 12 percent were arrested on suspicion of committing new offenses. About 56 percent of those offenses were drug-related, nearly three-fourths of the offenses were misdemeanors.

Before approaching a home, officers were briefed on the probationer they were about to visit. Equipped with a photo of the offender, officers discussed priors, announced if the probationer had gang enhancements or whether the offender was known to run.

The briefing sessions are necessary, said Sgt. Enrique Esparza, "so we know what we're dealing with."

For Johnson, who said he was on probation for drug-related charges, the sweeps are all part of the job.

"I understand they're just doing their job," he said. "I have no problem with it."

Others were not as understanding.

"The sweeps look bad on us because people see that the police is here," said Felipe Sanchez, 67, whose son is on probation.

Sanchez was disturbed that more than one police officer showed up at his house.

"It's bad fame," Sanchez said.

Since the beginning of realignment in October 2011, probation officials have participated in more than 50 sweeps with local departments, targeting realignment offenders and making sure they are complying with the terms of their release.

The Probation Department assigned 31 officers, three supervisors and a division assistant director to focus on inmates under the program, as well as assign some officers to work directly with the county's biggest police agencies, such as Santa Ana, Anaheim, Garden Grove and the Sheriff's Department.

Law enforcement agencies have been concerned that realignment will result in increased crime in their communities, though probation officials have cited a recidivism rate much lower than what was seen when parolees were under state care.

A report issued earlier this week from the Council of State Governments Justice Center suggests that the state law that brought about these changes, AB 109, might not have such a large effect on arrests as some law enforcement agencies have stated.

The report, which looked at arrests from Los Angeles, Redlands, Sacramento and San Francisco police agencies, found that people under probation and parole made up one of five arrests in the agencies. Those under some sort of state or county supervision were also most likely to be arrested for drug offenses, not violent or property crime.

"While line law enforcement focus groups reported they were arresting a disproportionate number of persons under supervision, or the same persons over and over, the study points out that notion is not borne out of the data collected," the report read.

Esparza, who supervised the probation sweep Friday, said that what the Probation Department is offering goes beyond supervision.

"There's a rehab effort on behalf of probation," Esparza said. "They're offering services that will hopefully help them stay out of prison."

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